Concern over PHD dropout rates

[@ernestinalefebvre5191]

I'm officially checked out of the PhD program. I've self funded my postgraduate & undergraduate studies. I've had to work, experience bullying, humiliation, delays in promotion while fighting for my postgraduate studies in various institutions. These people are liars. There's no support. The more you show potential & distinctiveness, the more academics shun you & set you up for failure. I'm now approaching my 40s, no promotion, no life, no money, no family & no friends & 11 years academic work experience. No one gives a shit & they're quick to blame you for your incompetence while ignoring lack of engaged support from disinterested supervisor.

[@maburwanemokoena7117]

I suspect one of the reasons could be the trade off between studying and getting some of the experience from work. I think many would prefer growing and getting the experience they need at work than further their studies only to not be experienced after completion.

[@ernestinalefebvre5191]

SA PhD is also not structured and some of us are venturing into unchartered fields of study, experimenting with methods that are new and ZERO pedagogical support from departments, supervisor, university. I fought for cosupervision & my supervisor refused because he wants me to fail & he got it 😔

[@DokoloCity]

There is no way in 2022 that we can still be studying for 6 years for a PhD!

[@isiphilendakisa1440]

Honestly

[@tafadzwajosephdube]

how many years do you think is enough?

[@DokoloCity]

@@tafadzwajosephdube Max 4 years in the Humanities, Social Sciences & Business. The dropout rates will continue, and Manuel's comments sum up the frustration among PhD students in South Africa. How can ethical clearance alone take 1-year really, confirmation of candidature another year, proposal another year.. those are three wasted years of administrative work. Examination alone takes something between 6 months to 2 years... in the end, you come up with 12 years... does that sound ok to you. In the 1970,' 80' 90' and early 2000' students took that long to complete PhD because there was no internet and research tools, and the work was largely manual. How can that be happening in 2022 with all the advancements in technology?

[@ernestinalefebvre5191]

Are you a PhD holder or candidate?

[@mazet196]

I really do not agree with the assertion made by the first lady who spoke. Saying that there is no longer apprenticeship models in universities where one student is assigned to one supervisor. That is currently the trend and main reason why students feel isolated in the PhD journey. I am currently enrolled as a PhD candidate and it is an apprenticeship model. Alot of universities have cohort supervision in their policies but it is not a reality on the ground, again a lot of these universities do not have supervision capacity there is still quite a load of lecturers who are still lecturing with just their masters and they cannot do Ph.D. supervision. There is minimal support for phd students, the financial cost, emotional cost, and social cost is mostly the responsibility of the student alone to bare.

[@zena3413]

I am student it's realy tough but me is not giving up anytime soon.